Worthington 2014

Worthington Crossing 2014

Photos by George C. Campbell

There has been a Worthington, Ohio, crossing of two railroads since 1893 when the single track Sandusky & Columbus Short Line (later Pennsylvania Railroad’s Sandusky Branch) crossed the single track Big Four (later New York Central). The Big Four had been built as the Cleveland Columbus & Cincinnati Railroad in 1851. The PRR Sandusky Branch was sold to the Norfolk & Western in 1964 which then became the Norfolk Southern Railroad in 1990. The New York Central became Penn Central in 1968, Conrail in 1976 and finally CSX in 1999. In 2014 we have the double track Norfolk & Southern crossing the single track CSX. The 1893 crossing of two single track railroads was rebuilt in 1916 when the Sandusky Branch was double tracked. A new “Armstrong” interlocking tower was built at that time. In the late 1960s the Worthington tower was replaced with remotely controlled pneumatic powered switches. Sometime in the past the pneumatic power was changed to electric powered switches. Now in 2014 the signal system is being upgraded, the occasion for this latest set of Worthington Crossing photos.

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The camera is pointed north down the CSX right of way toward the crossing. The I-270 outer belt bridge is visible in the far distance almost two miles away. This is the route of the CSX "beer train" that serves the Budweiser Brewery with grain cars.

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The shiny new signal towers are looking good as we approach the crossing.

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Just north of the crossing is the CSX passing siding. In the late 1950s when the then NYC had nine to twelve passenger trains a day you would occasionally see a passenger train take the siding. It would only happen when one or both of them were off their schedule.

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The photographer is now along side the NS double track looking north. The third track on the far left is the CSX track.

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Coming from Columbus the CSX and NS tracks are parallel and within 100-150 feet of each other. The CSX track continues in a straight line due north of the crossing while the two NS tracks curve to cross the CSX and veers away from the CSX only to curve back about 1/3 mile north of the crossing to again parallel the CSX until Delaware where they veer away from each other again. The white building in the far distance is a remnant of the Worthington depot and the red-brown building to the right of the station is the old PRR freight house.

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Looking north with NS on the left and CSX on the far right.

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Similar shot, the photographer has moved to the right.

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The photogrpaher is standing next to the crossing looking south toward Columbus. The NS is on the left, CSX on the right. To the right of the high line is the Ohio Railway Museum right of way. One of their poles with the trolley wire overhead can be seen.

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The camera is now looking southwest toward the ORM right of way.

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Another view of the crossing.

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Each of those switches has a hand throw.

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Since the angle of the intersection is so acute the crossing has movable switch points making for a more complicated rail structure.

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Another view of the crossing for all you modellers out there.

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The camera is north of the crossing looking southeast.

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A Norfolk Southern freight "hitting" the crossing. The speed limit on the crossing is 25 mph.